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Take the fast train across China

The brand new high speed train in China from Lanzhou to Urumqi (Xinjiang’s capital in the Western Territory) has recently been completed and the first test trains have just completed the journey. In total it will run 1,776 km through three different provinces.

Just a century ago, such a journey along the famous trading route known as the Silk Road would have taken months – now it will take just 8 hours at an average speed of 220 miles per hour (and from Urumqi to Beijing in 12 hours and Urumqi to Shanghai in less than 20 hours).

It is the world’s longest high-speed railway and the first passenger journeys are expected to begin as early as November this year.

Comments Robin Ball, Director of specialist tour operator Bamboo Travel: “This is great news for the travel industry and in particular for those who want to visit the fascinating places along China’s Silk Road but have limited time.

“From spring 2015 we are planning a new 16-day trip to take advantage of the high speed train called ‘The Silk Road Explorer’ stopping at major places of interest along the high speed train route including Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan and Urumqi at the end of the line.”

The two-week trip starts with a visit to Beijing & Xian to see The Great Wall and Ming Tombs, Shaanxi Museum and the Terracotta Warriors.

Following the train section of the trip, the itinerary continues to the far West of China to visit Kashgar for the famous Sunday Bazaar and Karakul Lake, before an exciting border crossing into Kyrgyzstan over the Torugart Pass.

In Kyrgyzstan there is a visit to Lake IssyKul and finally to the capital, Bishkek.